(6) Clauses (11) and (12) of Article 18 shall be read and construed
subject to the provisions of this Article.
27. (1) Whenever-
(a)
a request is made in accordance with clause (2) for a report on a
bill or statutory instrument; or
(b)
the Chief Justice considers it necessary for the purpose of
determining claims for legal aid in respect of proceedings under Article
30 or 31;
the Chief Justice shall appoint a tribunal which shall consist of two
persons selected by him from amongst persons who hold or have held
the office of a judge of the Supreme Court or the High Court.
(2) A request for a report on a bill or a statutory instrument may be
made by not less than thirty members of the National Assembly by
notice in writing delivered(a)
in the case of a bill, to the Speaker within three days after the
final reading of the bill in the Assembly;
(b)
in the case of a statutory instrument, to the authority having
power to make the instrument within fourteen days of the
publication of the instrument in the Gazette.
(3)
Where a tribunal is appointed under this Article for the purpose
of reporting on a bill or a statutory instrument, the tribunal shall, within
the prescribed period, submit a report to the President and to the Speaker
of the National Assembly stating(a)
in the case of a bill, whether or not in the opinion of the tribunal
any, and if so which, provisions of the bill are inconsistent with
this Constitution;
(b)
in the case of a statutory instrument, whether or not in the
opinion of the tribunal any, and if so which, provisions of the
instrument are inconsistent with this Constitution;
Reference of
certain matters to
special tribunal